July 3, 2024 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Rhode Island FC News Release
The goalkeeper is an essential position in the sport of soccer, and Rhode Island FC coaches and players have worked tirelessly to ensure the position shines as one of the club’s strengths.
The collective effort continued to pay off most recently when the club held El Paso Locomotive FC scoreless in a dominant 3-0 victory. During the win, Perth, Australia native Jackson Lee was in net for the second consecutive match, and collected his third career clean sheet and the fifth in the Ocean State club’s growing history thanks to a full team effort.
“All three of our goalkeepers, Jackson Lee, Koke Vegas and Nate Silveira are essential to what we are doing here,” said Rhode Island FC Assistant Coach and Director of Goalkeeping Karl Spratt. “It really is a collective effort from the three. My job as a coach is to put them in an environment where their behavior can improve and they can succeed as we give them as much information on the opponent as we can. All the credit has to go to the guys as it is a player’s game.”
The trio of goalkeepers are a key component to the success of the club as a whole. Spratt works relentlessly with his unit and understands that they each have their own experiences and unique styles. From his point of view, the three shot stoppers are always willing to find ways to improve upon themselves with the help of each other and the coaching staff.
“They are really open minded and always striving to get better,” said Spratt. “They have different backgrounds, but all have pro experience. I’m bullish on our goalkeeping group and the framework we have created. It has been a major positive as we continue to make strides as a unit.”
Spratt recognized the significance of creating the best conditions for his goalkeepers in order to build on their skills. A crucial skill Spratt prioritizes during training is the mental skills and awareness of his goalkeepers.
“The reading of their game is imperative,” said Spratt. “I ask them, ‘Can you read the game to understand dangerous situations and prevent them from being really dangerous?’ We have multiple goalies making multiple decisions and we have to make sure they make the right ones.”
Spratt doesn’t view his role as a coach that teaches goalkeepers their position, as all three have years of playing experience, but rather as a leader for his men.
“What’s most important to me is their starting positions and that they…
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